UM shuffles, sets non-conference football schedule

We hear the University of Miami has set its 2013 non-conference football schedule, and unlike recent years, all four games will be completed in the first month of the season.

UM will play host to Florida Atlantic in the opening week of the season (tentatively set for Aug. 31), in the first of a three-game series between the teams. The Gators will visit Sun Life Stadium on Sept. 7 to complete a two-game home-and-home series.

UM either will play an ACC road game or have a bye on Sept. 14 before playing host to Savannah State on Sept. 21. Savannah State, which plays in the Football Championship Subdivision, lost 84-0 to Oklahoma State and 55-0 to Florida State this season.

The Hurricanes then will play at South Florida on Sept. 28 to complete a five-game series between the schools. The schools played in mid-to-late November in past years.

UM felt strongly about not playing a non-conference schedule as difficult as this past season's, which included Notre Dame and Kansas State.

UM confirmed the aforementioned non-conference opponents and dates, but the ACC schedule has not been set. The Hurricanes don't like how they draw for Thursday night home games or noon Saturday home games, but they have no say in when ACC games are scheduled, unfortunately.